“Ferrari are in a world of pain at the moment, and it’s all of their own,” Sky Sports commentator Martin Brundle said.

Fellow commentator and 2016 F1 World Champion Nico Rosberg agreed with Brundle’s assessment the youngster had been shafted by his own team.

“They treated Leclerc too harshly,” Rosberg said.

“Now they see it makes no difference and it’s unfair on Charles. He will have a chance at the end of the race, maybe we will see action at the end.

“For Sebastian they got it right but for poor Leclerc no, let’s hope but no I think they got it wrong.

“He had the pace, he was on pace. Sebastian went by and wasn’t any quicker this is not a nice way for him to end the race today.”

I mean, I get it's early in the season but that doesn't justify @ScuderiaFerrari giving Leclerc orders to let Vettel overtake. If anything this is the time Seb should prove his skill and not ask for team handouts. #F1#1000thGP#ChineseGP

Throughout the race the orders became the hottest talking point and it was raised to team bosses once the chequered flag has waved.

Ferrari insist they were not trying to hamper Charles Leclerc’s race by ordering him to let Sebastian Vettel past in the Chinese GP.

Team principal Mattia Binotto says the Scuderia were simply trying anything they could to reel in the two Mercedes of Hamilton and Bottas ahead.

Leclerc moved aside for Vettel on Lap 11 when running third, but he finished fifth after being overtaken by Max Verstappen through the pit stops.

“It was not to give an advantage to a driver. It really is the team trying whatever we could,” Binotto told Sky F1. “It was an early stage but an important moment of the race.

“I understand the feeling of Charles. It’s a shame for him but at that stage of the race Mercedes were slightly faster and we simply tried to give Sebastian a go and see if he could keep the pace of Mercedes.

“If Charles is upset, he is right to be upset. We should accept it, it’s a shame for him and next time maybe it will be to his advantage.”

Ferrari have come under fire over team orders.Source:AFP

Vettel was unable to pull away from his teammate after being let through, locking up several times, and he ultimately had to settle for third, nearly 14 seconds off the lead.

Leclerc said he would speak with his team to get a greater understanding about why the decision was made.

“I need to understand the full picture and see the full picture, to speak with the engineers and understand the decision,” Leclerc told Sky F1.

“For sure there is an explanation behind this decision and I will understand it.

“I don’t know (if the call was made too early). I need to look at the data and speak to the engineers to understand. I don’t want to make any silly comments.

“Anyway it’s passed. It’s not been a great race for me but overall the weekend I’ve not been as strong as I wanted driving.”